Horses To Follow » Tranquil Sea

03-Nov-2008

Tranquil Sea created a huge impression when he landed the Land Rover Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last April, beating the Ballymore Properties Hurdle first and third Fiveforthree and Trafford Lad into second and third places respectively, not least because he always shaped like a chaser. Trainer Edward O’Grady said before he made his chase debut at Cork on Sunday that he had schooled well at home, and he carried that ability on to the racetrack, jumping accurately and efficiently under Andrew McNamara throughout. He did make a mistake at the fourth last, the one before they turned for home, and he did jump to his right at all three fences up the home straight, but that is nit-picking, and he could hardly have put up a more impressive performance on his seasonal debut.

There is no telling how high the son of Sea Raven can go now. The Drinmore Chase is an obvious next step followed, perhaps, by the three-mile Grade 1 novices’ chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. The staying novice chasers look like a talented bunch this season, but Tranquil Sea could turn out to be as good as any of them.

© The Irish Field, 3rd November, 2008